清明節(jié)（雙語）

Qing Ming is a time to remember the dead and the dearly departed. More important, it is a period to honour and to pay respect to one's deceased ancestors and family members. Because it reinforces the ethic of filial piety, Qing Ming is a major Chinese festival.

Literally meaning "clear" (Qing) and "bright" (Ming), this Chinese festival falls in early spring, on the 106th day after the winter solstice. It is a "spring" festival, and it is an occasion for the whole family to leave the home and to sweep the graves of their forebears. Chinese being practical people this sweeping of the graves is given an extended period, that is, 10 days before and after Qing Ming day. Among some dialect groups a whole month is allocated.

清明節(jié)是一個紀(jì)念祖先的節(jié)日。主要的紀(jì)念儀式是掃墓，掃墓是慎終追遠(yuǎn)、郭親睦鄰及行孝的具體表現(xiàn);基于上述意義，清明節(jié)因此成為華人的重要節(jié)日。 清明節(jié)是在仲春和暮春之交，也就是冬至后的106天。掃墓活動通常是在清明節(jié)的前十天或后十天。有些地域的人士的掃墓活動長達(dá)一個月。

2、ORIGIN(起源)

Qing Ming is popularly associated with Jie Zi Zhui, who lived in Shanxi province in 600 B.C. Legend has it that Jie saved his starving lord's life by serving a piece of his own leg. When the lord succeeded in becoming the ruler of a small principality, he invited his faithful follower to join him. However, Jie declined his invitation, preferring to lead a hermit's life with his mother in the mountains.

Believing that he could force Jie out by burning the mountain, the lord ordered his men to set the forest on fire. To his consternation, Jie chose to remain where he was and was burnt to death. To commemorate Jie, the lord ordered all fires in every home to be put out on the anniversary of Jie's death. Thus began the "cold food feast", a day when no food could be cooked since no fire could be lit.

The "cold food" festival occurs on the eve of Qing Ming and is often considered as part of the Qing Ming festival. As time passes, the Qing Ming festival replaced the "cold food" festival. Whatever practice is observed，the basic observation of Qing Ming is to remember one's elders by making a special effort to visit their graves, ashes or ancestral tablets. To make the visit even more meaningful, some time should be spent to remind the younger members of the family of the lives and contributions of their ancestors, and the story of Jie Zi Zhui who choose death over capitulation.

談到清明節(jié)，有點歷史知識的人，都會聯(lián)想到歷史人物介子椎。據(jù)歷史記載，在兩千多年以前的春秋時代，晉國公子重耳逃亡在外，生活艱苦，跟隨他的介子椎不惜從自己的腿上割下一塊肉讓他充饑。后來，重耳回到晉國，作了國君(即晉文公，春秋五霸之一)，大事封賞所有跟隨他流亡在外的隨從，惟獨介子椎拒絕接受封賞，他帶了母親隱居綿山。

晉文公無計可施，只好放火燒山，他想，介子椎孝順母親，一定會帶著老母出來。誰知這場大火卻把介子椎母子燒死了。為了紀(jì)念介子椎，晉文公下令每年的這一天，禁止生火，家家戶戶只能吃生冷的食物，這就是寒食節(jié)的來源。

寒食節(jié)是在清明節(jié)的前一天，古人常把寒食節(jié)的活動延續(xù)到清明，久而久之，清明取代了寒食節(jié)。拜介子椎的習(xí)俗也變成了清明掃墓的習(xí)俗了。無論以何種形式紀(jì)念，為了使紀(jì)念祖先的儀式更有意義，我們應(yīng)該讓年輕一代的家庭成員了解先人過去的奮斗歷史，當(dāng)然，還要學(xué)習(xí)介子椎寧死不屈的氣節(jié)。

3、每年的公歷四月五日前后為清明節(jié)，是二十四節(jié)氣之一。今年的清明節(jié)是4月4日。在二十四個節(jié)氣中，既是節(jié)氣又是節(jié)日的只有清明。清明節(jié)是我國傳統(tǒng)節(jié)日，也是最重要的祭祀節(jié)日。按照舊的習(xí)俗，祭祀(掃墓)時，人們要攜帶酒食果品、紙錢等物品到墓地，將食物供祭在親人墓前，再將紙錢焚化，為墳?zāi)古嗌闲峦?，折幾枝嫩綠的新枝插在墳上，然后叩頭行禮祭拜，最后吃掉酒食回家。

清明節(jié)，又叫踏青節(jié)，正是春光明媚草木吐綠的時節(jié)，也正是人們春游的好時候，所以古人有清明踏青，并開展一系列體育活動的的習(xí)俗。直到今天，清明節(jié)祭拜祖先，悼念已逝的親人的習(xí)俗仍很盛行。

Celebrated two weeks after the vernal equinox, Tomb Sweeping Day is one of the few traditional Chinese holidays that follows the solar calendar-- typically falling on April 4, 5, or 6.

Its Chinese name "Qing Ming" literally means "Clear Brightness," hinting at its importance as a celebration of Spring. Similar to the spring festivals of other cultures, Tomb Sweeping Day celebrates the rebirth of nature, while marking the beginning of the planting season and other outdoor activities.

Qing Ming Jiein Ancient Times

An old man takes one last look before leaving the City Cemetery at Biandanshan of Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province.In ancient times, people celebrated Qing Ming Jie with dancing, singing, picnics, and kite flying. Colored boiled eggs would be broken to symbolize the opening of life. In the capital, the Emperor would plant trees on the palace grounds to celebrate the renewing nature of spring. In the villages, young men and women would court each other.

The Tomb Sweeping Day as Celebrated Today

With the passing of time, this celebration of life became a day to the honor past ancestors. Following folk religion, the Chinese believed that the spirits of deceased ancestors looked after the family. Sacrifices of food and spirit money could keep them happy, and the family would prosper through good harvests and more children.

Today, Chinese visit their family graves to tend to any underbrush that has grown. Weeds are pulled, and dirt swept away, and the family will set out offerings of food and spirit money. Unlike the sacrifices at a family's home altar, the offerings at the tomb usually consist of dry, bland food. One theory is that since any number of ghosts rome around a grave area, the less appealing food will be consumed by the ancestors, and not be plundered by strangers.

清明節(jié)在川東地區(qū)還有清明粑這種食物 清明粑，是川東地區(qū)在清明節(jié)所實用的傳統(tǒng)小吃。皮為糯米面加上一種叫清明菜的野菜，包上野蔥、榨菜和臘肉丁炒熟做成的餡，上籠屜蒸熟以后即可食用。

因為制作這種小吃的主要配料清明菜是一種野生植物，只有在清明前后這一段時間才鮮嫩可吃。清明菜生在野地，長三四寸高就開出小黃花，莖葉生細(xì)百絨毛，因此看上去灰綠灰綠的。

Tomb Sweeping Day

Qingming Festival

Pure Bright Festival

Clear Brightness Festival

例句：

The day after tomorrow is the Tomb-sweeping Day.

后天是清明節(jié)。

The Qingming Festival in spring is the occasion for visiting ancestral graves.

清明節(jié)是掃墓拜祭先人的日子。

The Qingming Festival is a statutory public holiday in mainland China.

清明節(jié)在中國大陸地區(qū)是法定節(jié)假日。